Elon Musk Endorses the Trump Space Force – Do You?

One of President Trump's most reliable applause lines at his rallies is his plan to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.

He now has a big new backer. Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, endorsed the idea during a "Recode Decode" podcast with Kara Swisher. When Swisher asked about the Trump space force, Musk said: "Well, this may be a little controversial, but I actually like the idea. I think it’s cool. You know, like, when the Air Force was formed, there was a lot of like pooh-poohing."

"I think we could just have a base on the moon, for example. A base on Mars. Be great to expand on the idea of a space force."

"[F]or explorers ... anyone who has an exploratory spirit — and I think that especially applies to a country like the United States, where ... it’s kind of the distillation of the spirit of human exploration — I think the idea of being out there among the stars and among the planets is very exciting."

"I do think it will become obvious over time that a space force is a sensible thing to do."

P.S. WhenSwisherasked about the power that’s held by Facebook and Google and others, Musk said tech could use more regulation:

"It probably makes sense — if something is responsible for a public good, and could potentially negatively affect elections or something like that — that there probably should be some regulatory oversight to ensure that we’re not negatively affecting the democratic process. That the quality of news is good and not unduly influenced. These seem like sensible things."

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I do not endorse the Space Force. This would make Elon Musk and his enterprise one of the highest earning Defense Contractors on earth. Great deal for him and Trump but ridiculous for the American Tax Payers - paying billions for a threat that don’t exist and will never exist. Sounds like something out of a comic book. Shamefully misguided.

Nope. Already have one called Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. Save us a lot of money and let them continue to do their excellent work which includes cyber security and just expand their mission.

Millions without healthcare, food, housing. Underfunded education and infrastructure. A grossly bloated military industrial complex. And of course an incompetent racist trying desperately to be a full blown dictator. But yeah, let’s spend trillions to make one of trumps fantasies come true. Yet another reason republicans need to go.

Let’s commence a space force so Mr Musk can participate in the bidding process, create jobs and embellish his fortune; only a Trump like idea would rise to this level of discussion- a space force? really!! Trump has been watching too many Star Trek movies and Musk is a wannabe Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Let’s allocate our resources for the repair of our climate and environment. Finally, I always thought the Air Force and NASA would be the engine and brains behind protecting the heavens.

Not necessarily at this moment, but people thought the government was crazy when they wanted to establish an Air Force. Idk if it’s something we need right now, but you better believe warfare will be moving into space in the next 100 years and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get a head start on that technology. I don’t see funding space exploration and tech as a bad thing. I am fearful to see what this administration would do with that kind of tech though.

Air Force has two X-37B space planes, including one that returned to Earth last year after two years in orbit, though what it was doing is unknown.
In 1982, the Air Force Space Command was officially established, and today employs 35,000 people
The establishment of NASA did not mean an end for the U.S. military in space, though many of its projects among the stars were and still are classified.
We have always had military in space.
THIS NOTHING MORE THAN SOMETHING TO STROKE HIS EGO AND GIVE WASTEFUL CONTRACTS TO CRONIES. Just another way Trump is defrauding the American people

I support the desire of space exploration. I just don’t believe that making it a branch of the military is the right direction at this time. I don’t believe we face an imminent threat of aliens invading earth, so let’s leave the the exploration of space in the hands of scientists and not the military.

If we wish to remain the worlds military superpower and not get pushed away from the economic boom that will be space exploration, resource and real estate accumulation. Russia and China have stated that they will have moon bases within the next ten years. Do you not think they will have military protecting those interests? You leftists truly live in an alternate reality where everyone shares and sings songs together. Did you not learn anything on the playground growing up? Don’t worry snowflakes, stay in your safe rooms and the adults will keep protecting you and your rights.

Excuse me, we're incapable of maintaining the earth we live on, why should be be delving into space? IT'S A HUGE WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY. We need to spend our tax dollars on our infrastructure, schools, etc. If Elon Musk wants to support a space project, let him do it with his and Comrade Bone Spurs money, not ours. Oh wait, Bone Spurs doesn't contribute to taxes, so I hardly think he'll open his wallet for a space program.

The problems on Earth need to be solved first. No one should homeless , hungry, everyone should have healthcare and all repairs to bridges and roads should done. No school should need any repairs or be hurting funding for anything.

Why should we care that Elon Musk endorses #45’s gazillion dollar spending on a Space Force? #45 has added a gazillion dollars to our deficit and it looks like he won’t be happy until he sees our country run into the ground.

In 1969 we landed on the moon. Then the President decided we had to cut back in this area to fund a WAR! Vietnam has received aid as has South Korea and many other countries. The Space race has passed us by! It’s time that we set up a launch station on the moon, if we are ever to explore outer space any more! YES!!

I support space exploration. I just don’t believe that making it a branch of the military is the right direction at this time. I don’t believe we face an imminent threat of aliens invading earth, so let’s leave the the exploration of space in the hands of scientists and not the military.